Gleaning volunteers harvesting organic delicata squash grown for research and donated to a local food pantry.

3 Sheep in a fenced pasture of tall, healthy grass.

Broccoli seedlings growing in trays on a table in a greenhouse, to be transplanted into ltare plots.

cabinet soil dryer with many bags of soil samples in individual paper bags

WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center

Soils & Organic Farming Systems

Our group studies organic farming systems, including organic amendments, cover crops, and soil quality. The goal of our program is to build soil productivity, support local agriculture, protect water quality, and facilitate recycling of organic wastes, by applying soil science principles to agricultural, development, and waste management issues. We study issues important to small scale, direct-market, and organic agriculture, including nutrient management, food safety, soil quality, weed management, economics, and marketing.

Our experimental research farm, including 12 acres of certified organic land, is located at the Puyallup Research and Extension Center (PREC) in Puyallup, Washington. We also collaborate with farmers in on-farm research projects.